Indexing means for continuous mining machine heads



Oct. 26, 1954 J. J. SLOMER 2,692,767

INDEXING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE HEADS Filed Dec. 23, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet l EEC/PEOCABLE Wham-221.:

MAI/V FRAME Co/v VEYOE UNLOADING V EN TOR.

ATTOQNEY Jgsephl 310m Oct. 26, 1954 J. J. SLOMER 2,692,767

INDEXING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE HEADS Filed Dec. 25, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il'IIHHHHHHH lllL.

O) (O) my QM N V EN TOR.

Jg'k eph J; lomer Arroervzy Oct'. 26, 1954 J. J. SLOMER 2,692,767

INDEXING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE HEADS Filed Dec. 23, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Near/241. 26 VALl/EPo5/770/v ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1954 J. J. SLOMER INDEXING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE HEADS Filed Dec. 23, 1950 ag 4 f 244 INDEX/NGTOfi/ELEH' FEWNEUTEALPOSI' r/o/v 540w M1 763.

l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 JNVENTOR.

(igseph J ,Sl amer AT TOBNEY Oct.26, 1954 J. .1. SLOMER 2,692,767

INDEXING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE HEADS Fild Dec. 23. 1950 M 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 fig 7 CONT/M0005 LEW/3E Tun seams MOVEMENT F'EOM Nev/r241. Pas/770M i140 WN IN F741 5 IN VEN TOR.

l osephllfllomer 7 ZTTORNEY Oct. 26, 1954 J. J. SLOMER 2,692,767

INDEXING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE HEADS Filed Dec. 23, 1950 v 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 C 0N r/Nuous Elam-W155 Fumes/N6 MOVEMNT NV 'NTOR.

-1 L l oseph lomer ATTORNEY Oct.26, J. J. SLOMER I INDEXING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE HEADS Filed Dec. 23, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 {fig 9 VEN TOR.

J a flephd fiomer A TTOQNE) Oct. 26, 1954 J. J. SLOMER INDEXING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE HEADS Filed Dec. 23, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 NEUTRAL VALVEPQsJT/QA/ 26 A a 1 w m U V 0 N N Q w w 7 m m w h 1 a w w a 1 T u 1 w %M W @i. IE m 7 m a 23 z z z z m 2 ll A $3 T a, .1 W194. w 1 w l 1 T 22; X am a 2 8 I: o w MM 14 Patented Oct. 26, 1954 INDEXING MEANS. FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE HEADS Joseph J. Slomer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 23, 1950, Serial No. 202,503

10 Claims. 1

lhis invention relates generally to mining and particularly to improvements in machines such as .a continuous mining and loading machine and the like.

In a continuous mining and loading machine, as disclosed for example in the co-pending application of Frank Cartlidge, Serial No. 116,684, filed September 20, 1949, the Cartlidge application and this application having a common assignee, a cutting and dislodging head is carried at the end of a boom for side to side swinging movement, up and down tilting movement, and forward and backward reciprocating movement with respect to a face being mined. Mining operations may be started by a vertical sweep of the head along one side or edge of the face. Following this initial sweep the head is swung, some amount less than its width, toward the other side or edge of the face to index it for the next vertical sweep. Such vertical sweeps and sidewise indexing movements are repeated automatically until the face is completely mined out, from one side to the other.

When the head is operating against the face, visibility is reduced due to the fines and dust thrown into the air. This reduction in visibility makes it difficult at times for the operator to index the head accurately by any sort of manually operated control apparatus. In very dusty locations, therefore, it is necessary for most efiicient operation that the machine be capable of indexing itself from one position to the neXt without the operator attempting to control the magnitude of the movement.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is the provision of an operating and control system for such a cutting and dislodging head which will automatically line up the head with the next portion of the face to be cut.

In a continuous miner of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned application, gathering mechanism is provided at the floor level for picking up material dislodged by the head. It is desirable that the dislodged material be directed downward in line with gathering mechanism and not thrown outward from it. In order to direct the dislodged material properly it is essential that the cutter head overlap to a certain extent the portion of the face being mined. For example, where the cutter head is, say, 42 inches wide, the

actual width of face acted against, after the first sweep, must be something less than 42 inches so i the overlap will direct the dislodged material toward the gathering mechanism. In some very hard coals, for instance, this overlap may be as little as 2 inches while in other ofter and more frangible coals it may need be as much as 6 or 8 inches. Thus it will be apparent that any automatic indexing system must be readily capable for varying amounts of :overlap to operate most efficiently under varying mining conditions. For example, the above-mentioned 42 inch wide head should be capable of varied indexing movement from full width to some amount considerably less than full width.

Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide such an operating and control system which adjustable to automatically index the head in varying amounts depending on the mining conditions.

Another object is the provision of such an operating and control system in which the cutting and dislodging head is selectively operable to index the head in either direction a predetermined proportion of its full swing and is further operable selectively to swing the head in either direction any desired amount up to a full swing in a single pass.

In one specific form the invention includes provision of fluid metering means which, when actuated, supplies a measured quantity of fluid which is utilized to control indexing movement of the head to an extent determined by the measured quantity of fluid. An ancillary feature i11- cludes the provision of means for adjusting the quantity of fluid measured in order to correspondingly adjustably vary the indexing movement of the head.

-A preferred form of the invention as illustrated in the drawings includes reversible fluid pressure operable motor means for swinging the head in opposite directions. A pair of metering cylinders is provided, each being connected to a. source of fluid and each being operable to draw a measured quantity of fluid from the source and supply it to the motor means to index the head 2. corresponding measured amount in one direction or the other. Manually operable control means is additionally provided to selectively actuate either of the metering cylinders for indexing movement in either direction and to selectively actuate the head for a continuous swing in either direction where desired.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the appended drawings in which:

Figure l is a ,plan view of a continuous mining machine embodying a preferred form of an oper-- ating and control system in accordance with the present invention; ior clarity, the machine itself is superimposed lightly over the operating and control mechanism to better show the environment for the latter;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal side view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the system showing it in a neutral condition with the pump running and with the cutting head swung to the right;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the system in condition for indexing movement to the left;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing the metering means being recharged for a subsequent indexing movement;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the system in condition for indexing movement to the right;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the system in condition for continuous traversing movement toward the left;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the system in condition for continuous traversing movement toward the right;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the operating and control system showing means for adjusting the magnitude of indexing movement; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view,simi1ar to Fig. 3, of a modified form of operating and control system.

Referring now more particularly to the em bodiment shown in the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a continuous mining machine such as disclosed in detail in the above-mentioned co-pending patent application.

Briefly, the machine comprises a main frame A having a sub-frame or turntable B mounted for side to side swinging movement. On the turntable is a reciprocable frame C which is mounted for forward and backward movement with respect to the turntable B. The reciprocable frame C carries a drum-shaped cutting and dislodging head D which is mounted for up and down tilting movement about an axis E-E. Beneath the head is a gathering mechanism F arranged to transfer dislodged material to a conveyor G which runs along the swingable frame B, the main frame A, and a swingable rear unloading boom H. For additional details of the mining and loading machine, reference should be made to the above-mentioned co-pending application.

Referring now more particularly to the operating and control system which is the object of the present invention, a pair of cylinders 22 and 2 l a is mounted, as by bolts 22, to the main frame, along opposite sides of the conveyor G. Internally of the cylinders, pistons 23 and 23a (Figs. 3-8) are fitted and they carry piston rods 24 and Ma, respectively. Sheaves 26 and 26a, respectively, are carried by the ends of the piston rods.

The turntable B is provided with a circular portion 2! defined between upper and lower flanges 23 and 29 (Fig. 2). A cable 3! has one end portion mounted on the main frame at 32 and it extends backwardly therefrom, around sheave and forwardly to the turntable portion 21, approximately half way therearound to point 33 where it is anchored by suitable means, on around the turntable, backwardly to sheave 26a, around the latter, and forwardly to point 34 where the other end is fixed to the opposite side of the frame. By this arrangement, pressure admitted to the head end of cylinder 2! will extend piston rod 26, causing the turntable to be swung clockwise to the position shown in Fig.

1 while at the same time causing piston rod tea to be contracted. Conversely, pressure introduced into the head end of cylinder 2la will cause the turntable to swing counter-clockwise to a position opposite that shown in Fig. 1.

In order to more effectively tie-in Fig. l with the diagrammatic views which follow it, the longitudinal center line of the turntable B (and, likewise, that of the cutting and dislodging head D) is indicated (D-T throughout.

It should be understood that the views shown in Figs. 3-8 and in Fig. 10 are diagrammatic, for the purpose of more clearly describing the invention, the dimensions and proportions not necessarily being any where near those that would be proper for an actual installation.

Referring now more particularly to the novel operating and control system, as illustrated in Fig. 3, a valve block Eli is formed with three bores, 3?, 38 and containing, respectively, valve spools ii, &2 and Q3. Valve bore 31 is provided with circumferential grooves M, 56, All, I58 and 59. Valve bore 38 is formed with grooves 5|, 52, 53, 5 1, 56, 57 and 58. Valve bore it is formed with grooves 5t, 8!, 62, $53, 64 and 66.

Valve spool fill is formed with diametrical re ductions ill, 63 and to alternating with lands ii, i2, is and it. Valve spool 42 is formed with reductions "l6, ii and it which alternate with lands i9, iii, t2. and 33. Valve spool 53 is formed with reductions lid, 36 and B"! which alternate with lands 88, 89, and 92.

Centering means for maintaining each valve spool in the neutral position of Fig. 3 includes a cap 93, having an interior shouldered portion 94, mounted by any suitable means to cover the end of the valve spool. The corresponding end of each valve spool is diametrically reduced at 98 and 87 to provide outwardly disposed shoulders 98 and 99 and inwardly disposed shoulders it! and H32. Washers H33 and lot are suitably mounted on the reductions 9t and 9?, respectively. A coil spring Hi6 bears, respectively, on the two Washers tending to bias them apart. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, the spring urges the washer Hi3 upward into engagement with the outer surface Hill of the valve casing and urges the washer l M downward against the shouldered portion M. The parts are so dimensioned that under these conditions the shoulder 98 of each valve spool is flush with the end of the casing so as to maintain the spool in the neutral position shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 6, upward movement of the valve spool is limited by engagement of shoulder ill! with the washer Hi3. Conversely, as shown in Fig. 4, downward movement of each valve spool is limited by engagement of shoulder 99 with washer Hi l.

Referring further to Fig. 3, the valve block includes an intake port or opening Hi8 which, when all the valve spools are in neutral positions, communicates directly with an outlet port H19 through passages Hi, H2, H3, and lid. An overload bypass passageway Hli, entrance to which is controlled by relief valve ill, provides for bypassing fluid directly from port i iii! to port I09 at times. Branching from port its is another series of passageways H8, H9 and I2! connecting grooves 46, 53 and 62 and into which entrance is controlled by check valve I22. An inlet-outlet port E23 is connected by passage 42s to groove 63; similarly an inlet-outlet port is connected by passage [2! to groove 45. An outlet passage !28 provides communication between grooves 44, 5|, 59 and the port I99. An inletoutlet port I29 is connected by passage I 3I to a cross passage I 32 which provides communication with both grooves 59 and 54; similarly, an inlet-outlet port I33 is connected by passage I34 to a cross passage I36 which provides communication with both grooves 52 and GI. At an intermediate level a through passage I31 provides communication between port I99 and grooves 4'1, 56 and valve bore 39, when valve spool 43 is in the Figure 3 position.

Metering means for rotatably driving the turntable portion 2? to index the cutting and dislodging head a predetermined proportion of its full swing to the right or to the left includes a pair of expandable casings I38 and 538a having movable walls I39 and I 99a, respectively, and defining metering chambers HI! and Isle which are variable in volume with movement of the walls. As best shown enlarged detail in Fig. 9, the casings I39 and I390. may be cylinders and the movable walls may be pistons movable therewithin.

Metering cylinder I38 will now be described in detail, it being understood that, except for differences specifically described, it is the same as cylinder I38a, similar parts in the latter being designated by the same reference characters followered by a.

Metering cylinder I38 comprises an elongated tubular casing having an inlet port I92 and an outlet port it. At the opposite end is a flange it having drilled and tapped holes It. An end closure piece I4! is attached to the flange by means of bolts Hi8 threadably engaged in the bolt holes I46. A gasket I49 is interposed between the flange and closure for fluid sealing purposes. Centrally of the closure is a drilled and tapped pressure port I5I. The upper end or" the cylinder I38 is provided with an internal concentric sleeve I52 having internal threads I59 near the outer I end. At its inner end, the sleeve I52 is provided with an internal groove I54 carrying a fluid sealing -ring I56. The piston I39, in this case, is of the floating type and comprises a pair of circular discs I! and I58 having oppositely disposed rubber or leather cup members 'IEI and IE2 compressibly interposed between them by means of center bolt I59. The disc I58 is provided with an exteriorly extending skirt I63 which engages the cap IA'I to limit outward movement of the piston.

The piston is biased in a direction to expand the metering chamber ml to its maximum volume by means of a coil spring I6 1 which bears respectively on the upper end of the casing and on the inner face of the floating piston.

Adjustable stopping means I58 is provided within the cylinder casing for/ limiting the inward travel of the piston to limit the minimum volume condition of the metering chamber. This stop ping means in the present case comprises a stemlike member having a smooth inner portion it? which extends in fluid sealing relationship through the O-ring I59. The outer portion of the stem I I55 is threaded as at I68 for engagement with the casing threads I53. Thus it will be seen, that by screwing the stem I66 outward the minimum volume condition of the metering chamber will be reduced; conversely, by screwing it inward, toward the piston I39, it will be increased.

As will be seen subsequently, fluid metered by the cylinder I38 will be supplied to the operating cylinder 2I to index the cutting head to the right; conversely, fluid metered by the cylinder I38a will be supplied to the operating cylinder 2I a to index the cutting head to the left. Normally, it will be desired that these indexing movements be of the same magnitude in both directions. This meansthat the volume of fluid supplied by each of the metering cylinders should be the same and this is accomplished by maintaining the adjustment stems Itt and IEBa at corresponding levels within their respective cylinders.

The adjusting stems I66 and ISM are maintained at the same relative levels by providing opposite hand threads (for example right hand for thread I69 and left hand for IBM) and mechanically interlocking them through a pair of meshed gears I69 and I69a. At the same time it is necessary to provide for adjustment of one with respect to the other. The details of, this construction are as follows, as shown in Fig. 9: At the upper end of stem I660, a flange I'II is provided. Above the flange is a milled slot containing a .key I12 and above that are additional threads I13. The gear I 69a has a keyway I79 which fits over the key I12 and maintains the gear and stem against relative rotation. The gear is held in place by nut I19 and washer I'Il which press it against the flange I'II'. Gear N59 is mounted so that, when desired, it may be ro tated free of its stem I66, being frictionally engaged between a lower lock nut I78 and upper washer and nut I79 and I9 I, respectively. A look nut I82 on the threaded portion I68a of stem I'oGa holds the two stems in their adjusted positions.

To carry out identical adjusting movements of both stems, in the same direction and. magnitude, it is necessary only to loosen the lock nut I82 and turn the gears in one way or the other. If it is desired to correct a condition where one metering cylinder is supplying more fluid than the other, this can be done simply by loosening nut I8I of gear I69 without rotating its stem, following which stem I 66a can be turned up or down to match the level of stem I69.

The various elements of the operating and control system shown in Fig. 3 are interconnected by circuit means as follows: the head end of operating cylinder 2| communicates. with control valve port I29 through conduit I83; similarly the head end of operating cylinder 2m cornmunicates with control valve port 1139 through conduit I84. A pump I86 is located. in conduit I87 and is adapted to draw fluid from a tank. or reservoir I83 and supply it to control valve port I98. Control valve outlet port I69 is connected by conduit I89 to return fluid to the tank. A supply conduit I 9| containing check valve is connected between the tank and metering cylinder inlet port I I-2; similarly another supply conduit I9Ia containing a check valve I92a is connected between the tank and the metering cylinder inlet port I42a. Conduit I99 containing check valve I94 is connected between metering cylinder outlet port I43 and conduit I83; similarly conduit I 93a containing check valve Idea is connected between metering cylinder outlet port MM and conduit I94.

OPERATION When the miner is in operation the pump I may normally be running continuously. In the neutral condition of the control valve means 36., as shown in Fig. 3, the pumped fluid will be bypassed to tank in the direction indicated by the arrows.

7 Indexing to the left Referring now to Fig. 1, assume the miner has cut a vertical sweep along the right hand side of the face, as indicated at S, and that it is to be indexed to its left to make a succeeding cut indicated 8-8, the lines of the two outs overlapping an amount X predetermined by the metering means. This is carried out as shown in Fig. 4, simply by depressing the valve spool M. This causes the land l3 to close off communication between passages iii and H2 and divert fluid under pressure past check valve i2?! through passage i i B and out of groove 36 (now uncovered by land 72) and into conduit H360, leading to the metering cylinder IBM. The fluid under pressure will move piston i35aupward, compressing spring ifida and forcing fluid out of the meter chamber i iia into the head end of operating cylinder Zia which will exert a tension on rope iii to pull the turntable portion 21 to the left counterclockwise) an amount determined by the measured amount of fluid supplied by the metering cylinder. At the same time the tension exerted on the cable 3! will move the piston 23 into its cylinder causing an amount of fluid equivalent to the measured amount to be returned to tank I88 through the conduit and control valve means in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 4-..

The operator will maintain the valve spool ll depressed until the indexing operation is completed. When the head stops swinging, as it will do automatically, the operator releases the valve spool and its centering spring i655 automatically moves it back to neutral position.

Recharging metering cylinder at the end of indexing step After the above-described leftwise indexing movement, and as soon as the operator releases the valve spool to neutral position, the biasing spring ifi ia will push the piston i3a downward returning fluid beneath the piston to tank, through the control valve means, and drawing additional fluid into the metering chamber from the tank, all as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5. The system is now recharged, ready for a subsequent leftwise indexing movement.

Indexing to the right To index the cutting head to the right the operator pulls valve spool 43 out to the position shown in Fig. 6 and holds it there until the indexing movement is automatically completed. This causes valve land 92 to block off communication between passages ii3 and lid and diverts pressure fluid past the check valve i22, through the passage i2! (now opened by land as) into the conduit 196 leading to the metering cylinder I38. The pressure so admitted to the floating piston ass displaces it upward against the bias of spring Hid until it is stopped by engagement with the end of stem IE6. The resultant contraction in volume of the metering chamber i li forces a measured quantity of fluid into the head end of operating cylinder 2! thereby exerting a tension on the cable 3! to rotate the turntable 2? to the right (clockwise) an extent determined by the measured volume of fluid displaced from the metering chamber. This is accompanied by inward movement of the opposite operating piston 23a and an amount of fluid equivalent to the measured amount is discharged from the head end of cylinder Zia, through the control valve means, all as shown by the arrows in Fig. 6. As soon as the operator releases the valve spool 43 and lets it return to neutral position, the metering cylinder I38 will be automatically recharged, for subsequent rightwise indexing movement, in the manner described in connection with Fig. '5.

Continuous traversing movement to the left To swing the head to the left (counter-clockwise) in any desired amount other than the predetermined amount set by the metering means the operator depresses the valve spool 42 as shown in Fig. 7. This causes land 82 to shut off communication between passages i i2 and i 13 and diverts fluid under pressure past the check valve I22, out of the passage H9 (now opened by land 8i) into conduit its leading to the head end of operating cylinder Zia. Fluid is correspondingly displaced from the head end of the other operating cylinder as the turntable swings to the left and is returned to tank through the control valve means, all as indicated by the arrows shown in Fig. 7. Under this condition leftwise traversing is completely under the control of the operator. It starts when he depresses the spool 42 and it stops when he releases it. He can swing the head only a few inches or, if he desires, he can swing it in one continuous traverse completely from the right to the left side of the room.

Continuous traversing movement to the right Fig. 8 illustrates the reverse of the condition described above in connection with Fig. '7. To swing to the right the operator pulls the valve spool 42 outward. This causes land 83 to shut off communication between passages H2 and I i3 and diverts fluid under pressure past the check valve i22 out of passage H9 (uncovered by land 81) to the conduit S83 leading to the head end of operating cylinder 2i. This will cause the turntable to swing to the right and fluid will correspondingly be displaced from the head end of the other operating cylinder, through the control valve means, to tank, all as indicated by arrows in Fig. 8. This rightwise swinging movement is also completely under the control of the operator who is able to inch the head from left to right a little at a time or to traverse the whole face from left to right if he desires.

Modified arrangement for actuating the metering means One of the basic features of the present invention resides in actuating the metering means i38i38a to produce a measured quantity of fluid and then providing other means for swinging the head a definite proportion of its full swing as determined by that measured quantity of fluid. The metering means may be actuated in any suitable manner This invention, therefore, is not limited to the specific fluid pressure actuated means disclosed in Figs. 3-9. For example, instead of actuating the metering pistons is9i39a by fluid pressure conducted through conduits ii-lfi-ififia, this may be done mechanically by some arrangement such as shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is essentially the same as Fig. 3 with the control valve means simplified by eliminating spools 4i and 43 and by providing mechanical rack and pinion arrangements for moving the metering pistons inward against their biasing springs Thus in the neutral condition shown in Fig. 10 the pum will bypass fluid directly to the tank through the valve by reason of the fact that the spool reduction 2% is in alignment with the passages 2H and.- 2M.

To index the turntable to. the left the operator pulls downward on lever 191a. This turns seg-- mental pinion 193a in a direction to move rack I99a upward thereby moving the metering piston |39a upward into its casing. This will trans fer a measured quantity of fluid into the head end of operating cylinder 2la to index the turntable leftwise as described in connection with Fig. 4..

To index the turntable to the right the operator pulls. down on the lever 19.! thereby turning segmental pinion I98 in a direction to move rack I99 upward. This displaces the metering piston I39 upward into its casing and index the turntable to the right as described in connection with Fig. 6.

Recharging of the metering cylinders after the indexing steps will be exactly the same as described in connection with Fig. 5.

To traverse the head in any desired amount in a leftw'ise direction the operator depresses the valve spool 242. This causes land 282 to shut ofl communication between passages 2H and 2M and divert fluid under pressure past the check valve 222 and out of the passage 218 (now uncovered by land 2'52) into conduit I84 leading to the head end of operating cylinder am. A corresponding amount of fluid will be displaced from the head end of cylinder 2| as the turntable swings to the left, the displaced fluid passing through conduit I33 through groove 256 (now uncovered by land 282) and out of passage 231, returning to tank through conduit I89.

To traverse the head in any desired amount in a rightwise direction the operator pulls the valve spool 242 upward. This causes the land 283 to shut off communication between passages 2 H and 2 l4 and divert fluid under pressure past the check valve 222 (uncovered by land 272) into conduit !83 leading to the head end of operating cylinder 2 i. As the turntable swings to the right fluid will be displaced from the head end of operating cylinder 2m and will pass through conduit 18d, groove 25! (uncovered by land 219), into passage 228 and to tank by way of conduit I89.

While two forms in which the present invention may be embodied have been shown and described it will be understood that various modications and variations thereof may be effective without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a continuous mining machine, a cutting head mounted for swinging movement in one direction and another to traverse a face being mined, an operating and control system for said head including: reversible fluid-pressure-operable motor means operable responsive to fluid under pressure to swing said head in one direction or the other across said face; a source of fluid under pressure; control valve and conduit means selectively effective to control the admission of fluid to said motor means to swing said head in one direction or the other; a first metering means connected to a source of fluid and operable responsive to fluid pressure to direct a measured volume of fluid to said motor means to swing said cutter head in one direction a fixed amount determined by said measured volume; a second metering means connected to a source of fluid and operable responsive to fluid pressure to direct another measured volume of fluid to said motor means to swing said cutter in another direction a fixed amount determined by the other measured volume of fluid; and control valve means connected to a source of fluid under pressure and selectively eifective to direct fluid under pressure to one or the other of said metering means to actuate the latter to energize said motor means to swingably index said head a predetermined amount in one direction or the other.

2. In a continuous mining machine, a cutting head mounted for leftwise and rightwise swinging movement to traverse a face being mined, an operating and control system for said head including: reversible fluid pressure operable motor means operable to swing said head in either directiQn; a, first metering means connected to a source of fluid and operable responsive to a fluid pressure to Supply a measured volume of fluid to said motor means to swing said cutter head leftwise a fixed amount determined by said measured volume; a second metering means connected to a source of fluid and operable responsive to fluid pressure to supply another measured volume of fluid to said motor means to swing said cutter head rightwise a fixed amount determined by the other measured volume; control valve means connected to a source of fluid and effective selectively to direct pressure to either of said metering means; each of said metering means having means for varying the volume of fluid supplied thereby, and means interconnecting said varying means for concurrent operation to simultaneously change the volume of fluid supplied by both metering means.

3. In a continuous mining machine, a cutting head mounted for leftwise and rightwise movement to traverse a face being mined, an operating and control system for said head including: reversible fluid pressure operable motor means operable to swing said head in either direction; separate metering means operable to index said cutting head a predetermined proportion of its full swing in either direction; each of said metering means comprising a casing having a movable wall enclosing a metering chamber which is variable in volume upon movement of said wall; means biasing said wall toward a position of maximum volume for said chamber; stop means for limiting movement of said walls; conduit means connecting each of said chambers to a source of fluid and to said motor means; check valve means limiting flow, in each case, from the fluid source to the chamber and from the chamber to the motor means; and selectively operable means for moving one or the other of said movable walls to. contract the chamber associated therewith to supply fluid under pressure to said motor meansto index said head said predetermined proportion of its full swing in one direction or the other.

4. In a continuous mining machine, a cutting head mounted for leftwise and rightwiseswinging movement to traverse a face being mined, an operating and control system for said head including: reversible fluid pressure operable motor means operable to swing said head in either direction; separate metering means operable to index said cutting head a predetermined prOpOrtion of its full swing in either direction; each of said metering means comprising a casing having a movable wall enclosing a metering chamber which is variable in volume upon movement of said well; means biasing said wall toward a position of maximum volume for said chamber; stop means for limiting movement of said walls; con- 5 duit means connecting each of said, chambers to a source of fluid and to said motor means; check valve means limiting flow, in each case, from the fluid source to the chamber and from the chamher to the motor means; and other manually controllable means for swinging said head any desired variable amount in either direction.

5. In a continuous mining machine, a cutting head mounted for leftwise and rightwise swinging movement to traverse a face being mined, an operating and control system for said head including: reversible fluid pressure operable motor means operable to swing head in either direction; separate metering means operable to index said cutting head a predetermined proportion of its full swing in either direction; each of said metering means comprising a casing having a movable Wall enclosing a metering chamber which is variable in volume upon movement of said wall; means biasing said wall toward a position of maximum volume for said chamber; stop means for limiting the range of movement of each of said walls; and adjusting means for concurrently varying the positions of both of said stop means to correspondingly vary the range of movement of both of said movable walls; conduit means connecting each of said chambers to a source of fluid and to said motor means; check valve means limiting flow, in each case, from the fluid source to the chamber and from the chamber to the motor means; and other means for swinging said head any desired variable amount in either direction.

6. In a continuous mining machine, a cutting head mounted for leftwise and rightwise swinging movement to traverse a face being mined, an operating and control system for said head ineluding: reversible fluid pressure operable motor means operable to swing said head in either direction; separate metering means operable to index said cutting head a predetermined proportion of its full swing in either direction; each of said metering means comprising a casing having a movable wall enclosing a metering chamber which is variable in volume upon movement of said wall; means biasing said wall toward a position of maximum volume for said chamber; stop means for limiting movement of said walls; conduit means connecting each of said chambers to a source of fluid and to said motor means; check valve means limiting flow, in each case, from the fluid source to the chamber and from the chamber to the motor means; fluid pressure operable actuating means effective, when actuated, to move either of said walls to contract the chamber associated therewith for directing a measured volume of fluid therefrom to said motor means; and control valve means connected between said actuating means and a source of fluid under pressure and being selectively operable to connect either of said actuating means with said source of fluid under pressure to actuate either of said metering means to index said cutting head a predetermined proportion of its full swing in either direction.

7. In a continuous mining machine, a cutting head mounted for leftwise and rightwise swinging movement to traverse a face being mined, an operating and control system for said head including: reversible fluid pressure operable motor means operable to swing said head in either direction; separate metering means operable to index said cutting head a predetermined proportion of its full swing in either direction; each of said metering means comprising a casing having a movable wall enclosing a metering chamber which is variable in volume upon movement of said wall; means biasing said wall toward a position of maximum volume for said chamber; stop means for limiting movement of said walls; conduit means connecting each of said chambers to a source of fluid and to said motor means; check valve means limiting flow, in each case, from the fluid source to the chamber and from the chamber to the motor means; fluid pressure operable actuating means for actuating each of said metering means; and control valve means connected between a fluid pressure source and said actuating means and between a fluid pressure source and said motor means and being selectively operable to direct pressure to one or the other of said actuating means to index said cutting head a predetermined proportion of its total swing in either direction, and being further selectively operable to apply pressure directly to said motor means to swing the cutting head a variable amount in either direction.

8. In a continuous mining machine, a cutting head mounted for swinging movement across a face being mined, an operating and control system for said head including: reversible fluid pressure operable motor means operable to swing said head in two directions; metering means operable to index said cutting head a predetermined proportion of its full swing in one direction or another; said metering means comprising a pair of cylinders each having a floating piston defining a variable volume metering chamber therewithin; each of said cylinders having means for biasing its piston toward a position of maximum. volume for said chamber, and stop means for limiting the stroke of said piston; conduit and check valve means for each cylinder providing for flow from a source of fluid to the chamber and from the chamber to one side of the motor means in each case; a source of fluid under pressure; pressure conduits from said fluid pressure source to each side of said motor means and. to the side of each floating piston exterior of the metering chamber; and control valve means associated with said pressure conduits operable selectively to direct fluid from said pressure source to either or" said floating pistons for indexing the cutting head a predetermined amount in either direction, and further operable selectively to direct fluid from said pressure source to either side or" said motor means to swing said cutting head a variable amount in either direction.

9. In a continuous mining machine, a laterally swingable cutting head, means for swinging said cutting head including reversible fluid pressure operated motor means connected with said head to reversely swing the same, a source of iluid under pressure including a tank and a pump connected thereto, a flrst metering means operable in response to fluid under pressure to direct a measured volume of fluid under pressure to said motor means, means for varying the volume of fluid displaced by said metering means to eflect swinging of said cutting head in one direction a measured distance, a second metering means operable in response to fluid under pressure to direct a measured volume oi fluid to said motor means, means for varying the volume of fluid displaced by said metering means to eiiect swinging of said cutting head in an opposite direction a measured distance, control valve means connected to said pump, fluid pressure conduits connected from said control valve means to said metering means and operable to displace a measured volume of fluid therefrom, other fluid pressure conduits connected from said control valve means directly to said motor means, said control valve means being selectively operable to direct fluid under pressure to one or the other of said metering means, to displace a measured volume of fluid therefrom to said motor means and swingably index said cutting head a measured distance, and also to supply fluid under pressure directly to said motor means and swing said cutting head directly from pressure supplied by said pump under the control of said valve means.

10. In a continuous mining machine, a swingable cutting head, means for swinging said head by power including fluid pressure operated motor means, a source of fluid under pressure including a supply tank and a pump connected thereto, metering means supplying a measured volume of fluid to said motor mean comprising a casing enclosing a metering chamber having a movable wall therein, a fluid conduit connecting said tank to one end of said casing, a check valve in said conduit, preventing reverse flow of fluid from said casing to said tank, a second fluid conduit connecting said end of said casing to said motor means, a check valve in said conduit preventing the back flow of fluid to said casing, control valve means, a fluid conduit connecting said pump to said control valve means, a fluid conduit connecting said control valve means to said casing, to supply fluid under pressure thereto, to move said movable wall in a direction to supply a measured volume of fluid under pressure to said motor means when said control valve means is in one position, and means moving said movable wall to recharge said metering means from said tank through said first check valve means when said control valve means is in a neutral position, comprising spring means moving said movable wall in a retractible direction along said casing, to effect the passage of fluid along said first conduit to said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,895,732 Rosenkranz Jan. 31, 1933 2,127,877 Maglott Aug. 23, 1938 2,269,781 Osgood Jan. 13, 1942 2,361,460 Daugherty Oct. 31, 1944 2,613,703 Calvert Oct. 14, 1952 

